Items

Historic resources from our archives - images, maps, documents, and more.

Cartoon depicting William Penn toasting the Devil with a glass of filtered water

“Speeding the Parting Guest,” Feb. 25, 1909

William Penn balks at drinking the "mixed drink" offered him: Schuylkill water, mixed with pollution from the upstream sources named. Editorial cartoon by Fred Morgan, Philadelphia Inquirer, April 6, 1899. One of a series of cartoons drawn by Morgan protesting the state of the city's drinking water and trying to encourage the passage of legislation authorizing the construction of a water filtration system.

“A Decidedly Mixed Drink,” April 6, 1899

Sewer Demand Taken to City Hall, 7/25/32

Goal (jail) in Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 1800

Congress Hall and New Theatre in Chestnut Street, Philadelphia

Library and Surgeon’s Hall in Fifth Street, Philadelphia, 1800

Gillette Schuylkill mud cartoon

‘Gillette, All By Himself, Gets Fine New Idea On Germ Slaying’

Samuel H. Ashbridge, former Mayor of Philadelphia

Portrait of Samuel H. Ashbridge, Mayor

State Sen James P. McNichol, 1905-1916

State Sen. James P. McNichol

Picture of John Trautwine, Jr.

Philadelphia Water Department chief engineer John Trautwine Jr., 1890s

Black and white image of Philadelphia civic and business leaders watching the start of operations at the new Northeast Sewage Treatment Plant, April 6, 1951

Northeast Sewage Plant opening, 1951

City officials tour new interceptor sewer, 1953